Feel like giving up horse riding:(

M

millreef

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 December 2010
Messages
1,689
Location
Morocco - Casablanca
Visit site
A couple of weeks ago I thought my riding was getting better - I rode when I was a child but never had lessons until I was in my late teens. Then I got married and had my children and stopped (very happily I might add) so that I could be with them. I started riding again about 6 years ago and have regular lessons. Now my kids are bigger and my daughter is riding with me. Anyway, sorry for the rambling but I asked my son to film me riding and I've just seen myself for the first time and feel like giving up! I'm so horrible to watch, no finesse, no style and hands and legs flapping like a shot pigeon. My position is awful and every mistake you can think of - I'm making! I must be insane as before I watched myself riding I entered for my stage 2 exam and there are only 53 days left. Feeling like giving up!
 
Do you enjoy it? That's the only question you need to ask yourself and if so, definitely don't give up based on one video! :)
 
Don't give up!!! Everybody is really critical when they see themselves ride. I hate watching myself; all i can see are my faults.

Take what you've seen and work on the points you feel need improving. Do you have an instructor? Prehaps you could sit down and watch the video together. Or even just go through it with your horsey daughter!

Ultimately you could be the prettiest rider ever but its the effectiveness of you riding which counts! keep going
 
Bah, as long as you enjoy it, it doesn't matter! Besides, most people are never as bad as they think. :) I'm not a great rider at all but I have fun and I get a bit better as time goes on. I'll never be as good as a lot of the riders I know but I enjoy it and my horse is happy and that's what matters.

Why not just pick out one thing from the video that you dislike and then take that as a focal point for improvement? I have a flapping leg issue too so now when I ride, I really concentrate on sorting them out. :)
 
I saw and commented on your video, and I didn't think it was too bad! If it helps - I have trained many BHS students for the stages exams, and I didn't look at you and gulp when I saw you say that you were doing your stage 11 soon. Think of it as a gift - you are now aware that you could do with tidying up a bit.

End of the day - it's what you do that is important, not what you look like. Being able to ride a well trained horse effectively is what matters at that level - you don't need to look like a Grand Prix rider. After all, if Stage 11 demanded perfection - what would the Stage 111 and 1V have to improve on?
 
I too gave up riding when I got married and had children. After getting divorced 8 years ago, I decided I was going to start riding again. I had a couple of lessons just to make sure I still enjoyed it, then decided to buy the grey in my signature.
For years after buying him, all I would do was hack out on him because I worried about what I would look like if I tried my hand at showjumping or X country. :( (There are always those who stand on the sidelines criticising!) :D
My friend and I were chatting whilst out hacking one day and I told her how I felt and her words to me were "Do these people matter to you? The people who are important in your life, won't criticise you or judge your riding. Stuff what people think of your riding position. You enjoy what you do, and always come off smiling and looking like you've had a great time. What difference does it make what you look like on your horse!"
She was absolutely right! Since then, I've done loads with him, including riding a X country course competitively, something I always wanted to do but never had the courage to try. :rolleyes:
I too watched a video of myself playing at jumps in a paddock when I first got him. I was appalled at how awful I looked and my horse must be an absolute saint not to have dumped me on the spot. :eek: I think most other horses would have. :rolleyes:
Please don't give up something you love just because you don't think you look good onboard your horse. Like others have said, just enjoy your horse. :)
 
don't give up! Like the others say, if you enjoy it, then that really is all that matters, and it;s not like you're hurting the horse or anything! Go for the stirrup thing but keep doing all the things you enjoy, life is too short. We are always most critical of ourselves.
hugsxx
 
I've been riding since I was 4, am now 21. Moved through from showjumping to dressage competitions.

My sister recorded me riding over Christmas, and I actually cried. I'm not the next Anky, but didn't think I looked quite as awful as I did. Sister assured me that in real life I look good. Couldn't shake the feeling of looking like a bag of crap when I rode....

Eventually I mentally pulled my socks up and thought well; I don't want to ride like crap any more.

If anything, seeing what I actually looked like made me firmly remove the rose tinted glasses... Ask my sister to watch me riding whenever possible and shout at me if I start leaning to the right or looking at Bruces ears!!

Don't give up, challenge yourself to get better. Nobody ever got anywhere by giving up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top